Dear Ben,
Hello! It’s me, mom, writing to you about your first four months with us. Will you ever read these? I thought today about sending you a postcard sometime in the future. Your stats: 27.5″ long (way off the charts), 17 lb 6 oz (about 90th percentile), head 17.32in (also about 90th %-ile). I’d write it now, put one of those “forever” stamps on it (that will always be honored by the post office regardless of the current postage rates) and just waiting for the address to write on it. What I got hung up on is where to store the postcard until you’re 18 or something. Where would I find it? What would I still have that far into the future? So hopefully this blog will be around then…
Anyway.
You are a gem. Such a big smile, and even bigger laugh. People always comment on your smile. My friend Liisa calls you “rent-a-baby” since you are always so good and sweet. She doesn’t think you ever scream. She’s mostly right. Today, though, you got your shots and if I touched your leg you screamed. All day. Like it was the end of the world. You also scream periodically when you have a cold. You don’t like the prodrome any more than I do. No sir. Don’t slow me down, please! What else is weird about you…you don’t like massages. Very strange – Sam had little leg massages every night before bed but you won’t have it. You cry when I try to rub your legs with nice lavender lotion. How strange? Why is that? Will you tell me sometime?
You’re sleeping so well…I love you for that! You go to bed at the same time Sam does, about 8pm, and sleep until 7am. You take a nap wherever we are around 9am, then again at 1pm. You usually sleep about 2 hrs in the afternoon. Sometimes more. We have enjoyed running and hiking with you – so much so that you are actually like a little hot dog. Your legs are browner on the top than the backsides. You have cooked longer on the top! I must turn you!
I love you dearly, Ben. You make me want a third child, you are that good. And that’s even when I’m only 8lbs away from my pre-Ben weight. You are THAT good!
Lots of love,
mom
What a moving message, Alli. Ben is so lucky, and so am I. How could you possibly be MY daughter, and be so, so, so good? You are a very special mommy. I wish I could have been YOUR daughter — look at all I would have learned from you. I love you.